Here are a few pictures I took of Sarah Parker hanging out on our kitchen floor. I'm not the best photographer, but I had a pretty great model. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Monday, June 22, 2015
Birthday + A Few Hospital Pictures
For the course of my pregnancy, I had a gut feeling that Sarah Parker would be born early. I didn't have a particular reason for this hunch other than my mom delivered ahead of her due date with all three of her kids and the fact that as a teacher I am usually up on my feet for the majority of the day. With that being said, from about May 20th onward the thought "will today be the day?" crossed my mind at least once. Each day passed without even a semblance of a birth pang and when my due date June 12th passed by I had convinced myself I would have to be induced.
Monday the 15th I had a doctor's appointment and the doctor asked if I wanted to go ahead and schedule my induction for that week. I had assumed that they would make me wait at least until a week after my due date to be induced, so I was surprised when he said he could try to get me scheduled for Wednesday the 17th. I said that sounded great, but the nurse came back and said the hospital was all booked for Wednesday and we left with instructions to be at the hospital on Thursday the 18th at 4:30 am.
I woke up at 1:30 am the very next morning with a dull but increasing pain in my back and abdomen. Everyone had told me that when I started feeling contractions I would be sure of what they were, and they were right. Immediately I grabbed my phone and started timing the contractions with an app I had previously downloaded. If I remember correctly, these contractions were about twelve minutes apart and were totally bearable. I relaxed myself as much as I could and slept in between them until they started getting more intense. Around three I just had to get up and move, so I filled the tub with a few inches of water and sat there through a few contractions and tried to relax. Wes stirred a little when I got back in bed and I told him what was up. I continued to time the contractions until about 5:30 when they reached five minutes apart and lasted 45 to 60 seconds. I woke up Wes, called our parents, and we headed out the door.
When we got to the hospital the nurse checked my dilation in triage and told me I was at a 4.5. At the doctor's appointment the previous day he said I was almost a four, so I felt relief that I had progressed. As ridiculous as it sounds, I was so scared they were going to send me home and that I would be one of those "first time moms" who came too early (which, of course, would have totally not been a big deal, just disappointing). The nurse said she thought the doctor would let me stay but he would be coming to check me out himself soon. About an hour later he came by and told me he would probably let me stay. He then checked my dilation and to his and the nurse's surprise and my glee he told me I had progressed- in an hour- to a seven. They were in utter disbelief but I wasn't surprised. I told them I had been praying all through my pregnancy that God would give me a fast labor if it was His will.
The next few hours are a blur to me. They brought me back to my labor and delivery room, and the nurse told me I could walk around the floor for an hour if I wanted. Wes and I started walking, but after a few rounds I just wanted to get in another position. We went back to the room and I laid down and eventually turned over to my side. The nurse kept checking me, but I hadn't progressed much more. Finally I reached an eight and the doctor came to break my water. After this, my contractions got even more intense and I had the strong urge to push. This was seriously the hardest part of labor- feeling like I needed to push but being told by the nurse that I couldn't. I sent poor Wes to tell the nurse I needed to push probably five times. Each time she would come in, check me, and say I was close but not yet. During this time my back was hurting so much with each contraction I had Wes push up against it with all of his strength. This helped a little, but I was still miserable. Finally, the nurse felt enough pity on me to tell me that although I was still just shy of being a full 10, I could go ahead and push. Pushing was hard, but I felt so much relief at the same time because I was finally able to do what my body was telling me. They tell me I pushed for a little over an hour, but looking back it seems like it was only a few minutes. Finally the doctor came in and she soon was here. She was born on June 16, 2015 at exactly 3:00 pm. When they placed her on my belly and I looked up at Wes and said "she looks like you!" and then "can we have another one?". Needless to say, we are both smitten by our little girl and although the pain was more than I could have handled without the strength of God, I would do it all over again just to be able to know her.
Monday the 15th I had a doctor's appointment and the doctor asked if I wanted to go ahead and schedule my induction for that week. I had assumed that they would make me wait at least until a week after my due date to be induced, so I was surprised when he said he could try to get me scheduled for Wednesday the 17th. I said that sounded great, but the nurse came back and said the hospital was all booked for Wednesday and we left with instructions to be at the hospital on Thursday the 18th at 4:30 am.
I woke up at 1:30 am the very next morning with a dull but increasing pain in my back and abdomen. Everyone had told me that when I started feeling contractions I would be sure of what they were, and they were right. Immediately I grabbed my phone and started timing the contractions with an app I had previously downloaded. If I remember correctly, these contractions were about twelve minutes apart and were totally bearable. I relaxed myself as much as I could and slept in between them until they started getting more intense. Around three I just had to get up and move, so I filled the tub with a few inches of water and sat there through a few contractions and tried to relax. Wes stirred a little when I got back in bed and I told him what was up. I continued to time the contractions until about 5:30 when they reached five minutes apart and lasted 45 to 60 seconds. I woke up Wes, called our parents, and we headed out the door.
When we got to the hospital the nurse checked my dilation in triage and told me I was at a 4.5. At the doctor's appointment the previous day he said I was almost a four, so I felt relief that I had progressed. As ridiculous as it sounds, I was so scared they were going to send me home and that I would be one of those "first time moms" who came too early (which, of course, would have totally not been a big deal, just disappointing). The nurse said she thought the doctor would let me stay but he would be coming to check me out himself soon. About an hour later he came by and told me he would probably let me stay. He then checked my dilation and to his and the nurse's surprise and my glee he told me I had progressed- in an hour- to a seven. They were in utter disbelief but I wasn't surprised. I told them I had been praying all through my pregnancy that God would give me a fast labor if it was His will.
The next few hours are a blur to me. They brought me back to my labor and delivery room, and the nurse told me I could walk around the floor for an hour if I wanted. Wes and I started walking, but after a few rounds I just wanted to get in another position. We went back to the room and I laid down and eventually turned over to my side. The nurse kept checking me, but I hadn't progressed much more. Finally I reached an eight and the doctor came to break my water. After this, my contractions got even more intense and I had the strong urge to push. This was seriously the hardest part of labor- feeling like I needed to push but being told by the nurse that I couldn't. I sent poor Wes to tell the nurse I needed to push probably five times. Each time she would come in, check me, and say I was close but not yet. During this time my back was hurting so much with each contraction I had Wes push up against it with all of his strength. This helped a little, but I was still miserable. Finally, the nurse felt enough pity on me to tell me that although I was still just shy of being a full 10, I could go ahead and push. Pushing was hard, but I felt so much relief at the same time because I was finally able to do what my body was telling me. They tell me I pushed for a little over an hour, but looking back it seems like it was only a few minutes. Finally the doctor came in and she soon was here. She was born on June 16, 2015 at exactly 3:00 pm. When they placed her on my belly and I looked up at Wes and said "she looks like you!" and then "can we have another one?". Needless to say, we are both smitten by our little girl and although the pain was more than I could have handled without the strength of God, I would do it all over again just to be able to know her.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Showers 2 and 3 + 37 Weeks
In the past few weeks we were given our second and third showers! The second shower was given to us by my peers at Copeland Elementary School. What a blessing this was because- up until I started my job in August- I had not even met most of these ladies, and yet they truly showered our family with love. Here are a few snaps of the happy occasion.
Our third and final shower was given to us by my aunt Sue and cousin Ashley. They did a great job of decorating the fellowship hall of Westfield Baptist Church by paying attention to all the little details. It was a great day and again we feel so blessed and loved!!!
We sincerely appreciate anyone who has gifted us with prayers, advice, or anything else at this most-special time in our lives. We are humbled by the grace God constantly shows us by putting His servants in our lives!
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What Fruit are you? Spark is the size of a winter melon! (19-22 inches, 6.5 pounds)
Due date: June 12, 2015How far along: 37 weeks, 1 day
Gender: Girl!
Maternity clothes: I'm pretty much wearing maternity clothes exclusively
Sleep: I've been waking up more and it is a lot more difficult to get comfortable
Food cravings: Milk and coffee
Symptoms: Minor pelvis pain
Movement: Sarah Parker has been very active lately
Labor signs: None!
What I miss: Wearing normal, non-maternity, clothes
What I'm loving: Working in my little girl's nursery
What I'm looking forward to: Sarah Parker's arrival!
Best moment this week: Having an extra day off this weekend to spend with my family!
Monday, May 4, 2015
Cornerstone Shower + 34 Weeks
This Sunday, our awesome church showered us with love and gifts to help us prepare for the arrival of Sarah Parker. I'm posting these pictures so I can look back on the day in years to come, but mostly so Spark can see how loved she was even before she was born. Thank you Cornerstone Baptist!!! You all have enriched our lives so much.
We are so thankful for Meagan Hutson and our youth group for hosting a diaper raffle at the shower. Every person who brought a pack of diapers was entered to win a prize. The more diapers you brought, the more times you were entered to win. Now we are trying to find a place to put all these diapers we have-- an awesome blessing and "problem" to have!
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What Fruit are you? Spark is the size of a pineapple! (19-22 inches)
Due date: June 12, 2015How far along: 34 weeks, 4 days
Gender: Girl!
Maternity clothes: I'm pretty much wearing maternity clothes exclusively
Sleep: I've been waking up more and it is a lot more difficult to get comfortable
Food cravings: Milk and fruit smoothies
Symptoms: Minor pelvis and back pain
Movement: Sarah Parker has been very active lately
Labor signs: None!
What I miss: Wearing normal, non-maternity, clothes
What I'm loving: Relaxing and putting my feet up occasionally
What I'm looking forward to: Sarah Parker's arrival!
Best moment this week: Organizing all the nice presents we received
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